Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Tuesday's Forecast
Light wind, negligible impact
Little wind or walking hardly affected by the wind, but feeling chilly if exposed on tops. 10-15mph or less.
Patchwork of cloud and sun
Dry most or all day. A mix of cloud and sunshine. Occasional cloud banks drifting over higher slopes, lifting above the tops.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 5 to 10C on higher terrain. Comfortable temperatures on lower terrain, but feeling chilly if exposed to wind higher up, especially if stationary. Pack extra layers.
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Light wind, negligible impact
Little wind or walking hardly affected by the wind, but feeling chilly if exposed on tops. 10-15mph or less.
Patchwork of cloud and sun
Dry most or all day. A mix of cloud and sunshine. Occasional cloud banks drifting over higher slopes, lifting above the tops.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 5 to 10C on higher terrain. Comfortable temperatures on lower terrain, but feeling chilly if exposed to wind higher up, especially if stationary. Pack extra layers.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Tuesday 28th April 2026
Last updated
Mon 27th Apr 26 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Dry with light winds, variable cloud and sun for much of the Highlands, though central-southeastern areas start with low cloud more widely over hills, tending to thin and break. England and particularly Wales will have gusty easterly winds; low cloud fairly widely in morning with local drizzly showers, improving.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Light wind. Early low cloud mostly east, lifts and breaks.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Variable 10mph or less.
Effect of the wind on you?
Negligible.
How Wet?
Any rain unlikely
Small chance of odd spots of drizzle in the east early in the day, but likely entirely dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied early low cloud lifting, breaking up
Fairly extensive on high terrain from dawn, lowest on eastern slopes. Highest tops may be close to top of cloud layer at dawn. Fog lifts after sunrise, drifting over some upper slopes for a few hours, then increasingly lifting above tops and breaking up.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40% early morning rising to 90% afternoon.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sunshine through high cloud, trending sunnier with time. Excellent visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4C rising to 9C, locally up to 11C around Drumochter.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Wednesday 29th April 2026
Last updated
Mon 27th Apr 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly, some variability, 10mph, often less.
Effect of the wind on you?
Negligible.
How Wet?
No rain expected
Cloud on the hills?
Little or none
Patchy mist in glens and corries from dawn, locally thicker layers of fog south Cairngorms. Soon lifting and dissipating to be generally clear.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
90%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Widely sunny. Excellent visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
8C rising to 10 to 12C, always mildest northern Cairngorm slopes.
Freezing Level
Above the summits. Patchy frost at dawn likely in sheltered glens.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Thursday 30th April 2026
Last updated
Mon 27th Apr 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-southeasterly 15 to 25mph, local gusty 30mph more eastern hills and in places downslope from northern corries.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, but some more noticeable gusty spots, more blustery on some slopes, not just the high tops.
How Wet?
No rain expected
Cloud on the hills?
None expected
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Practically certain
Sunshine and air clarity?
Extensive sunshine. Excellent visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
8C rising to 10 to 12C afternoon, warmest northwestern areas toward Monadhliath.
Freezing Level
Above the summits. Slight frost in glens at dawn.
Planning Outlook
High pressure brings settled weather and lots of spring sunshine through midweek, warm days with high UV; cool nights with grass frost in sheltered spots. Strong and gusty easterly winds will prevail for England, Wales and southern Scotland, whilst southeasterlies also tend to increase further across the Highlands by Thursday. Very dry grass and moorland conditions over mountain terrain continues to present a very high fire risk. A shift toward lower pressure by the end of the week brings a likelihood of showers on Friday, locally heavy. Southwesterly winds are then likely into the Bank Holiday weekend - cooler with a mix of sunny spells and showers in the extended forecast; very highest Scottish summits may dip close to freezing point.